Springfield's trash fee hike receives a pile of new criticism

Photo by Don Treeger / The RepublicanCarol Kapolinski, of Agawam, speaks out against a proposed trash fee increase during a public meeting Wednesday night at Springfield City Hall. His family owns property in Forest Park through a trust.

Chief Administrative and Financial Officer Lee C. Erdmann, joined by other representatives of the Finance Department and Department of Public Works, said he is proposing the trash fee rise by $29 annually – from the current fee of $75 to a new fee of $220 – by 2017. Senior citizens would continue to pay a fee of $50 per year.

Erdman said other options would be raising the fee by $10 on July 1, followed by either a $10 or $5 annual increase the following four years with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno favoring the lowest increase.

The city is facing major layoffs and cuts in services in the coming year that can be reduced by steps, including a rise in the trash fee, Erdmann said. Since 2008, the city’s work force has been cut from 1,581 workers to 1,316, with further cuts looming for the coming fiscal year, Erdman added.

State Street resident Jane Devlin said the increases would not only be unfair to residents, but would discourage recycling and lead to illegal dumping.

“There are lots of other options,” she said.

Resident Miguel Rivas added that new trash fees could push residents too far, leading to a taxpayers’ revolt and recall elections. 